Samsung unveils Galaxy Grand, a hybrid of the S III, Galaxy Note

Samsung has announced a new Android smartphone, the Galaxy Grand, that is a mashup between two of its popular devices: the Galaxy S III and the Galaxy Note II. The handset will come with dual-SIM support, too, but it’s not the best of both worlds.

On the outside, the Galaxy Grand looks a lot like the S III. It runs on the latest Android version, 4.1.2 Jelly Bean, with a dual-core 1.2GHz processor and 1GB of RAM. The back camera is 8 megapixels and can record full HD video, while the front camera is 2 megapixels.

There’s 8GB of built-in storage and a MicroSD expansion slot (for up to 64GB cards), along with the usual trimmings of Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GPS and sensors such as an accelerometer, compass, and gyroscopic sensor. The phone will connect to fast HSPA+ networks, but no 4G LTE version has been announced.

What holds back the Galaxy Grand is its screen. The display is 5 inches, which places it between the S III’s 4.8-inch screen and the 5.5-inch display on the Note II. However, at a resolution of 800 by 480 pixels, the display of the Galaxy Grand is inferior to both the S III and Note II, which sport 1280 by 720 pixel screens, with a higher pixel density.

Samsung did not say when or for how much the Galaxy Grand will retail. Judging by the mediocre display and upper average specs, the Galaxy Grand will probably be a mid-range device for those who want an Android phone with a big display (also nicknamed phablets), but without the premium price tag.

The Galaxy Grand could be an attractive offer for globetrotters though. The first version of the phone will come in a dual-SIM version, which allows you to use two phone numbers from the same phone. You can receive calls on one SIM while taking a call from the other, so you can always have a foreign SIM card for cheap calls along with your normal number. A second version of the Grand will then follow, which will feature only one SIM card slot.

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